Okui Mazami's Expression in Brazil
Description Anime Friends - Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dates: July, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2004 Venue/ location: Espa็o das Am้ricas, Tagipuru st. 795 - Barra Funda. Estimate of Public: 30 thousand visitors Company: Yamato Comunica็๕es e Eventos Official site: www.animefriends.com.br

[ Anime Friends and YAMATO profile ]

In 2003, July, Yamato Corp entered the Animes and Mangas segment with the creation of an entertainment fair that has become the biggest event of the genre in Latin America: the Anime Friends. The lead attraction of the first edition was the coming, for the first time to Brazil, of the japanese singers Hironobu Kageyama (from Saint Seiya and Dragon Ball Z soundtracks), Akira Kushida (singer of Jaspion and Changeman main themes) and the actor Hiroshi Watari (who played Bommerman, Jaspion's friend, and also Spielvan, or "Jaspion 2"). Another highlight of the event was the "Oscar da Dublagem". The public had the opportunity to meet the people who dub the voices of the cartoons/ animes they watch.
Many other attractions also kept the visitors entertained: anime songs based karaoke (Animeke), expositions, LAN House, stands with Anime and Manga products, forum rooms, exhibition rooms, RPG rooms, medieval combat arena and a lot of other minor activities. In four days of event, 22 thousand passes through the door were recorded, with the peak of public on sunday, when the event received more than 8 thousand visitors.

[ Anime Friends 2004 ]

Anime Friends' second edition will be held again in Sใo Paulo, on July 8 - 11, at Espa็o das Am้ricas. Once more we'll have an international artist's performance and this time we are bringing more japanese singers, who will sing in the concert Super Friends Spirits, in the Sunday. Hironobu Kageyama (Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya singer) will be back this year, and along with him will come Masaaki Endo (Cowboy Beebop and Street Fighter II singer) and Masami Okui (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Slayers, Saber Marionette J, Cyber Team in Akihabara) in first time in event.
The "Oscar da Dublagem" (Dubbing Oscar) will be back too, with the awarding of 2003's best works. Some attractions, like the third edition of Anime Gol (indoor soccer championship), Press Start (free playable arcades and consoles, in its fourth edition) and Fanzine Expo (which shows the works of fanzine makers at no cost) will also be part of ANIME FRIENDS 2004, as mini events.

As an old tradition in Anime conventions, the Cosplay presentation promises to repeat its success. "Cosplay" is a Japanese fan term for Costume Play - the habit of wearing outfits that are created to look like a specific character costume (from cartoons, videogames, comics, movies).

The cosplayers nowadays can be seen as a new attraction themselves, with their colorful and well constructed outfits, always looking for contests to prove their best.

Also, all atractions which were successful last year will be back, like the Animeke, Medieval Arena, videogame contest, RPG rooms and Card Games matches.

Some attractions do their premi้re, like Anime V๔lei and Anime Jam (volley and basketball matches). We'll also have expositions like the Transcon (Transformers mini event), Terra do Nunca ("Neverland" - toys which made history) and Cartoon Motors (real cars adapted to look like cartoons cars, like Mach 5 and Batmobile). And talking about premi้res and debuts, Editora ZN will start its activities during the fair, with the launch of the mangas (japanese comics) Sugoi and Cr๔nicas de Faherya ("Faherya Chronicles"), plus the preview of the book Kyria - a primeira pedra ("Kyria - the first stone").

[ Another Masami Okui's Songs ]

- Get Along (Slayers )
- Jyama ha Sasenai (Slayers Next )
- Little Wing (Scrapped Princess )
- Birth (Cyber Team in Akihabara )
- Shu - AKA - (Cyber Team in Akihabara )
- Kujikenaikara (Slayers )
- Sora ni Kakeru Hashi (Tales of Eternia )
- Shuffle (Yu-Gi-Oh! )
- Reincarnation (Tekaman Blade OVA )
- Mask (Bakuretsu Hunter )
- Megami Ni Naritai ~for a yours~ (Di Gi Charat X-mas )
- Hot Spice (Cyber Team in Akihabara Movie )
- Rinbu Revolution (Revolutionary Girl Utena )

[ Masami Okui - Anime Friends ]

Days: 08 (individual concert) and 11 (Super Friends Spirits).

[ Party Gallery ]

Supported information by Lucilene Girondi. Thanks a lot!!